Surging while driving- TC?

[Vaquero45]

I noticed shortly after getting the truck that occasionally while running the cruise control the RPM's would jump slightly. I could barely feel it but I could see the tach jump. It never really did it while controlling the throttle by foot. Today on the trip back to St. Louis it was doing it quite a lot. It doesn't seem to be a real driveability issue but it's quite irritating! So, I turned off the CC and noticed after a while that it would happen while driving by foot. It only does it while maintaining speed, not while accelerating or decelerating. When I stand on it there's no miss. OK, this explains why it's doing it on CC, more steady than the foot. I also noticed a definite correlation to bumps in the road. Worth mentioning is that right now I'm riding on the front snubbers, that's getting fixed next weekend!
I'm thinking tranny at this point. When I got off of the interstate I touched the brake pedal a time or two to unlock the torque converter and it was a duplication of what I saw earlier. Am I on the right track? What now? Any and all suggestions, questions or comments welcome.
A little background on the truck-
02 106K miles, no motor mods, shaker hood- so there is a different air delivery but I'm not suspecting that
Thanks guys
Rusty

[BryanRT360]

I'm thinking TPS

[geo2slow4u]

I'm thinking TPS


You should be correct. Sounds exactly like a faulty tps.

[Vaquero45]

ooops, forgot to mention the CEL.
When the previous owner ran the codes it was an issue with vacuum and figured it was the gas cap. He smoked the lines and found NO leaks, don't remember the specific code. Changed the gas cap but still have the light. It's been on since I bought the truck. Would the tps trip the light?
I really appreciate the replies! :biggthumpup:

[Vaquero45]

You should be correct. Sounds exactly like a faulty tps.

Would the problem increase with heat? It didn't surge on the way to work this morning. The drive to work is 20 minutes and the trip yesterday was 4 hours.
From what I remember about the FoMoCo TPS, there is a carbon strip inside that creates different voltages at different positions. If the Mopar sensor is the same that would give credit to why it's acting up at highway speeds- longer duration in this area of the strip= more wear.
thanks

[BTLFED R/T]

To check the codes;

Key in ignition, turn key all the way forward to off 3 times (without starting vehicle) quickly, on the third turn leave it forward and look at your odometer, the codes will come up, all starting with "P" followed by 4 numbers. Then let us know what it says. ;)

[Blue_Diable]

Id bet on TPS as well...had the same problem twice...

[Rooknute]

I have the same problem with my 99 R/T, while maintaining speed (in my case RIGHT at 2K), it almost bucks, but the passenger can't feel it all the time like I can in the drivers seat. It's almost like a miss..

Never been told it could be the TPS, but I was told it could be my torque converter going bad... idk... I've just been living with it and driving faster. lol But maybe now that you guys said about the TPS, maybe I'll see what they cost and grab one.

[Rick Adams]

Never been told it could be the TPS, but I was told it could be my torque converter going bad... idk... I've just been living with it and driving faster. lol But maybe now that you guys said about the TPS, maybe I'll see what they cost and grab one.[/QUOTE]

TPS is probably $30 - $40 bucks, takes 5 minutes to put in. Mine had the EXACT same symptom, no more problem.......

[Vaquero45]

Checked at Auto Zone- $44.99 for the TPS.

Just pulled codes-
300, 302, 307
455
601
I think I got water on my dist. Saturday when I washed the truck, no miss since then.

[White Turbo]

I noticed shortly after getting the truck that occasionally while running the cruise control the RPM's would jump slightly. I could barely feel it but I could see the tach jump. It never really did it while controlling the throttle by foot. Today on the trip back to St. Louis it was doing it quite a lot. It doesn't seem to be a real driveability issue but it's quite irritating! So, I turned off the CC and noticed after a while that it would happen while driving by foot. It only does it while maintaining speed, not while accelerating or decelerating. When I stand on it there's no miss. OK, this explains why it's doing it on CC, more steady than the foot. I also noticed a definite correlation to bumps in the road. Worth mentioning is that right now I'm riding on the front snubbers, that's getting fixed next weekend!
I'm thinking tranny at this point. When I got off of the interstate I touched the brake pedal a time or two to unlock the torque converter and it was a duplication of what I saw earlier. Am I on the right track? What now? Any and all suggestions, questions or comments welcome.
A little background on the truck-
02 106K miles, no motor mods, shaker hood- so there is a different air delivery but I'm not suspecting that
Thanks guys
Rusty


Yeah I'd check the TPS first.... If it still does the same thing after replacing it, then it's probly the TC lock up clutch gone bad

[Vaquero45]

Yeah I'd check the TPS first.... If it still does the same thing after replacing it, then it's probly the TC lock up clutch gone bad
Just for S&G's, if it's the tc clutch, how long can I ignore it before it really jacks something up?

[BTLFED R/T]

Here are your codes;

P0300 (M) Multiple Cylinder Mis-Fire Misfire detected in multiple cylinders

P0302 (M) Cylinder #2 Mis-Fire Misfire detected in cylinder #2.

P0307 (M) Cylinder #7 Mis-Fire Misfire detected in cylinder #7.

P0455 (M) Evap Leak Monitor Large Leak Detected A large leak has been detected in the evaporative sysem.

P0601 (M) Internal Controller Failure Internal control module fault condition (check sum) detected.

The first 3 were more than likely the cause from getting the distributor wet. P0455 is more than likey your gas cap needs replacing. And the last one I don't know what is, I hope someone on here knows.

[White Turbo]

Just for S&G's, if it's the tc clutch, how long can I ignore it before it really jacks something up?

Well, I drove mine for a while before I could figure it all out. I think I drove it maybe 500 miles??
The worn lock up clutch friction material will eventually show up in the tranny fluid, making it look darker as time goes by. Look for very fine metal dust in the tranny fluid (kinda the same look as metallic paint in a can).
If this just started though you might not see darker fluid right away.

One cheap fix that Jess brought to my attention is adding Ford (FoMoCo) friction modifier to the tranny. It's possible that this could solve the issue (if it is indeed the lock up clutch) without tearing the TQ converter out.
Won't cost much for this.
But if the clutch is too far gone,,, you'll need to have the lock up clutch rebuilt. Basically that involves resurfacing the lock up area on the converter and applying new clutch material. About $230 plus R&R.

[White Turbo]

Here are your codes;

P0300 (M) Multiple Cylinder Mis-Fire Misfire detected in multiple cylinders

P0302 (M) Cylinder #2 Mis-Fire Misfire detected in cylinder #2.

P0307 (M) Cylinder #7 Mis-Fire Misfire detected in cylinder #7.

P0455 (M) Evap Leak Monitor Large Leak Detected A large leak has been detected in the evaporative sysem.

P0601 (M) Internal Controller Failure Internal control module fault condition (check sum) detected.

The first 3 were more than likely the cause from getting the distributor wet. P0455 is more than likey your gas cap needs replacing. And the last one I don't know what is, I hope someone on here knows.


Yeah I agree on the first 4 codes... Maybe check all the evap hoses for cracks or leaks if it's not the gas cap.
Maybe he got the PCM wet as well?? Would that cause the P0601 code??

[Vaquero45]

Thanks a million fellers. I'm going to go ahead with the TPS and unhook the battery for a while after I get it on. I replaced the gas cap Sunday but that may not be the issue keeping the light on. We'll see what happens after the TPS and reset.
Again, thanks to all for the help.
Rusty

edit in reply to white's last post
The light has been on since I got the truck. Previous owner smoked the lines and could not find a leak. I'm pretty sure of the first three codes. It missed on the way home from the car wash and then it was fine. HEHE, took the wife with me for a test drive to make sure it was water and not something else making it miss. The look on her face was priceless when I pulled into an intersection and without warning cut a 360! Well, a 270. I made a right turn by slight left pressure on the steering wheel and lots of pressure on the skinny pedal.

[BTLFED R/T]

Sorry, forgot to tell you to reset the pcm. Do that, and see which codes come back. I bet it's only the 601 code, unless that had something to do with getting wet as well.

[White Turbo]

Thanks a million fellers. I'm going to go ahead with the TPS and unhook the battery for a while after I get it on. I replaced the gas cap Sunday but that may not be the issue keeping the light on. We'll see what happens after the TPS and reset.
Again, thanks to all for the help.
Rusty

Yeah reset the codes and see what comes back if anything. Keep us posted.

[Vaquero45]

Reset the computer after work today. I went for a short drive and so far there are no codes! We'll see if any come back tomorrow on the way to work and then Friday when I road trip again.
Thanks.

[01slvr59rt]

[QUOTE=Vaquero45;8565]I noticed shortly after getting the truck that occasionally while running the cruise control the RPM's would jump slightly. I could barely feel it but I could see the tach jump. It never really did it while controlling the throttle by foot. Today on the trip back to St. Louis it was doing it quite a lot. It doesn't seem to be a real driveability issue but it's quite irritating! So, I turned off the CC and noticed after a while that it would happen while driving by foot. It only does it while maintaining speed, not while accelerating or decelerating. When I stand on it there's no miss. OK, this explains why it's doing it on CC, more steady than the foot. I also noticed a definite correlation to bumps in the road. Worth mentioning is that right now I'm riding on the front snubbers, that's getting fixed next weekend!
I'm thinking tranny at this point. When I got off of the interstate I touched the brake pedal a time or two to unlock the torque converter and it was a duplication of what I saw earlier. Am I on the right track? What now? Any and all suggestions, questions or comments welcome.
A little background on the truck-
02 106K miles, no motor mods, shaker hood- so there is a different air delivery but I'm not suspecting that
Thanks guys



Had the exact same annoying problem. It was the TPS. Just picked up a new one at Vatozone and the problem went away.

[Vaquero45]

Had the exact same annoying problem. It was the TPS. Just picked up a new one at Vatozone and the problem went away.

I suspect that the code will be back tomorrow, i.e. I'm sure I'll have to do the same. At least it's not that expensive. Hopefully the gas cap fixed the EVAP issue.

Man I love the way your truck looks! Simple, slick and clean. The more I look around the more I want to change my headlights and hood. I think mine is a bit too busy in the front.

[Vaquero45]

:update:
No codes yet! I ran the CC on the way to work and no problems or surging. Friday will be the real test. I noticed before that when I set the CC it always jumped a couple hundred RPM before settling on the speed I wanted. It didn't do that this morning either. I wasn't sure it was working until I let off the gas.

[BTLFED R/T]

Very cool! I bet the codes are gone now.

[Vaquero45]

Surging came back on Friday while road tripping back to MO. Changed the TPS Saturday morning and on the way back to IL it never surged at all! Gas cap cured the CEL and TPS fixed the surge. Thanks to all for the help, I'm sure glad I didn't have to get into the tranny.

[01slvr59rt]

Surging came back on Friday while road tripping back to MO. Changed the TPS Saturday morning and on the way back to IL it never surged at all! Gas cap cured the CEL and TPS fixed the surge. Thanks to all for the help, I'm sure glad I didn't have to get into the tranny.


Glad your problems are fixed. I also thought it was a problem in the tranny with the torque converter lockup. I'm really glad these guys were here to help me with the problems I had with my truck and save me alot of money.

[Special Ed's R/T - Yaaaay]

Here are your codes;

P0300 (M) Multiple Cylinder Mis-Fire Misfire detected in multiple cylinders

P0302 (M) Cylinder #2 Mis-Fire Misfire detected in cylinder #2.

P0307 (M) Cylinder #7 Mis-Fire Misfire detected in cylinder #7.

P0455 (M) Evap Leak Monitor Large Leak Detected A large leak has been detected in the evaporative sysem.

P0601 (M) Internal Controller Failure Internal control module fault condition (check sum) detected.

The first 3 were more than likely the cause from getting the distributor wet. P0455 is more than likey your gas cap needs replacing. And the last one I don't know what is, I hope someone on here knows.


I have the last one right now too, the PCM is getting ready to take a shit

[BTLFED R/T]

I have the last one right now too, the PCM is getting ready to take a shit

Isn't that just dandy?!